The aging veteran was ripping through the NASCAR season, winning races and asserting himself in the points standings on his way to The Chase and a possible championship.

Martin captured the hearts of the NASCAR diehards, instilling hope that a good ol’ boy could slip by the youngsters and sit at the head table in New York at the end of the season.

It didn’t happen. Martin still made a good showing and gave the old guard something to be proud of, finishing second to whipper snapper Jimmie Johnson by 141 points in the final rundown.

Martin has fallen off in 2010. He is 13th in the points and is out of favor as a contender. But don’t worry, there is someone to fill the hearts of the longtime and diligent NASCAR fans that still follow the sport.

Jeff Burton is their man.

People love this guy. I never really understood it but after hearing him speak and watching how he carries himself both on and off the track this season, I’m hooked. This guy is not only a straight shooter, but he is a pretty good driver.

He isn’t afraid to talk about a sticky subject. On Friday, he spent 20-plus minutes talking about the fines handed out to Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin. He didn’t dodge the issue and gave his opinion.

In a positive way.

“I think there is an appropriate place and time to say what you feel,” Burton said. “I think one of the great things about our sport is the ability to show your emotions, show how you are feeling.

“I think we need to keep that. There is also a line where we cross where we’re not being productive, we’re just being negative. I think we need to be careful of that.”

Well said.

But Burton didn’t stop there.

He indicated that he doesn’t know the line. But he also said that in the 16 years that he has been in the sport, including when he chastised Kyle Busch this season, he’s never said anything that would have subjected him to a fine.

Burton talked about the fans and what they mean to NASCAR’s success. He said when it comes to attendance issues and schedules, he lamented that how he feels means nothing and that it shouldn’t.

For a topper, Burton was witty. When asked is his wife would mind him racing with a leather helmet, a t-shirt and one single seat belt like the old-timers, his response left the room in stitches.

Personality, Burton has it. And everyone loves someone that A) isn’t afraid to speak his mind and B) is honest. But there is another side to appreciate and this is the one that matters over the next four months.

He doesn’t feel pressure. He is an accomplished veteran. And he has a chance to win this thing.

Burton couldn’t say that a year ago. Richard Childress Racing was in shambles. Not only didn’t they contend, Clint Bowyer (15th in points), Burton (17th) and Kevin Harvick (19th) didn’t get a sniff of Victory Lane.

That’s all changed this year. All three drivers are currently in The Chase and are running near the front on a weekly basis.

“Momentum comes because you are running well every week,” Burton said. “We are performing at a high level and going into the last 16 races of the season and to even make The Chase, we need to do that. For us to win a championship, we need to do that.

“We’ve got four months of racing. That is an eternity in our sport. For the guys that travel every week and do this every week, it’s a long time. For us, it is a building process.”

One Burton might win.

He has four top fives and 10 top 10 runs. He is one of four Chase guys that has yet to have a DNF and more important, he is pretty good at every track left on the schedule.

A win here and there, and Burton can get in the championship hunt. And the laundry list of people pulling for him will grow longer and louder.

Count me in.

THE PICK

Weird and whacky things can happen at Pocono, but Jimmie Johnson should avoid it all to capture his third career win that the speedway.

This is his time of year and even though we aren’t making him a lock for the title, Johnson surges at this point. Besides, it’s been a month since he sat in Victory Lane and it is time to snap the drought.

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